Choosing furniture

Whether you buy your furniture new, second hand or antique, it is always a good idea to buy the best quality you can afford.

This is a simple matter of economics, because good quality furniture will look better for longer, it is an asset that can be carried with you from home to home, and ultimately it can be passed on or sold to be enjoyed by others.

This raises a problem: how can you judge whether furniture is good quality or not, without having to learn everything about furniture making and furniture history?

We are producing a series of short articles to help as a quick furniture guide. If you have any general questions about choosing furniture, or would like to see a short article on a particular furniture-related topic, please get in touch through our Contact us page.

Please select any of the articles below by clicking on the heading.

Solid Oak Furniture
A brief history of oak furniture and a guide to oak furniture currently available.

Solid Pine Furniture
A brief history of pine furniture and a guide to pine furniture currently available.

Finding Art Deco furniture
A brief history of Art Deco and a guide to Art Deco-style furniture currently available.

Finding chairs

Finding Rustic furniture

Distressed furniture

Furniture styles
A guide to the different historical periods and styles of British furniture.

Furniture terminology
Alphabetical index of commonly used terms in the furniture world from Dovetail joint through to Wood stains.

Pine Solutions
The history and development of colouring and finishing pine furniture

Flat pack or self assembly furniture
When and why was it invented? What are its advantages or disadvantages?

Choosing furniture for today

Furniture Brands and ranges
Understanding why the same furniture may have different names in different shops.

New, second hand or antique
A guide to furnishing a home with a mixture of new, second hand and antique furniture